Multimode optical fiber and optical backplane using multimode optical fiber

Abstract

An optical backplane system is provided. The optical backplane system includes at least one transceiver, at least one optical connector, and a plurality of multimode optical fibers coupled to the at least one optical connector. Each multimode optical fiber includes a graded index glass core having a diameter in the range of 24 microns to 40 microns, a graded index having an alpha less than 2.12 and a maximum relative refractive index in the range between 0.6 percent and 1.9 percent. The optical backplane further includes a cladding surrounding and in contact with the core. The cladding includes a depressed-index annular portion. The fiber has an overfilled bandwidth greater than 2.0 GHz-km at 1310 nm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 522,278, filed on Aug. 11, 2011, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]The present invention generally relates to fiber optic communication, and more particularly relates to small diameter multimode optical fiber that may be particularly useful for use in an optical backplane.High performance computing and server installations typically require a large number of processor-to-processor interconnections and utilize optical backplanes. Optical interconnects advantageously require much less electrical power than conventional wired systems and offer high speed data communication at long distances. Conventional fiber optic communication systems employ single mode or multimode optical fibers to transfer the data between remote locations. Multimode fiber optic cable off...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent text describes a new type of optical fiber called a multimode optical fiber. This fiber has a unique design with a graded index glass core and a depressed-index annular portion in the cladding. It also has a high overfilled bandwidth, meaning it can transmit a large amount of data at once. This fiber is useful for creating an optical backplane system, which is a system used in optical communication devices. The technical effect of the patent is to provide a new and improved optical fiber that can transmit more data more quickly and efficiently than previous options.

Problems solved by technology

Multimode fiber optic cable offers a plurality of modes, but conventional multimode fibers generally require a relatively larger diameter core and thus generally result in larger overall diameter fibers.

Images